Elevator signaling system.



E. R. NEWELL. ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

' APPLIUATION FILED MAY 24, 1911, 1,132,607. Patented Mar.23,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l l l l mam/J; cza- HE NORRIS PETERS (20., FHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C.

B. R. NEWELL.

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rHE NORRIS PETERS c0.. PHOTGLITHa. WASHINGTON. D. Q

E. R. NEWBLL. ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

- v APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1911. 1 1 32,60? Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMERSON R. NEWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ELEVATOR SUPPLY & REPAIR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application filed May 24, 1911.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EMERsoN R. NEwELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 230 Riverside Drive, New York city,

.New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevator Signaling Systems, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to a signal system for elevators, and one of my objects is to provide a construction which will dispense with the number of magnets ordinarily used in controlling the signals.

Another objectv is to provide a controlling switch operable by the operator of the car and by which he may control the restoration in a novel manner.

My invention will be more particularly set forth in the claims.

In the prior art such, for example, as the Smalley and Reiners Patent #631,220, and others of that character, it has been common to provide a magnet for setting the signal or controlling the setting thereof, and an other magnet to cause the restoration of the signal to normal condition. These are usually mounted on the overhead mechanism.

W hilethe Smalley and Relners construction is admirably adapted for the purposes for whch it was intended and has proved to be successful in practical use, it may be desirable in some cases to dispense with some of the magnets, and in the preferred construction shown in the drawings of my application I have provided a construction by which the setting and restoration of a signal may be accomplished or controlled by successive energizations of a single magnet, instead of one magnet for setting and another for restoring.

1n the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an element of the system; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the invention applied to a system similar to that of the Smalley and Reiners patent; Figs. 3 and 5 are details, and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a modification.

Referring to Fig. 1, in order to explain the general principles, 1 is a signal in the form of a target which may be thrown to show through an aperture 2, in a plate 3. -:1 is another kind of signal, which may be an electric lamp and may be carried on the car forsignaling the operator,or locatedon the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 629,114.

floor for signaling the intending passenger. 5 is an electro-magnet. The mechanism for setting the signal by or through one energization of said magne. and restoring the same by or through the next energization is preferably a vertically-movable core or armature 6 mounted on the pivoted lever 7, to which is pivoted one link 8 of a toggle 8, 9. The link 9 is pivoted at 10 and has a pin 11., which projects through a slot 12 in the link 8. A spring 18 attached at one end to a stationary stop pin let on the frame, and at the other end to the lever 7 serves to normally draw the core and lever 7 upward. 15 is another stationary stop pin. It will be obvious that, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, if the circuit to the magnet is closed the core 6 and lever 7 will be drawn downward, causing the upper end of the slot 12 to strike the pin 11 and throw the toggle to the left, and if the circuit is immediately opened the spring 13 will, as the toggle passes the dead center due to the inertia of the parts, throw the toggle to the position shown in dotted lines, where it will be held against the stop pin 15. A second opening and closing of a circuit to the magnet will obviously throw the toggle back to its normal position shown in full lines. A signal may therefore be set and restored to normal condition by this mechanism by successive energizations of a single magnet. The signal may, if desired, be mounted directly on an extension of the link 9, as indicated at l, or, if desired. the signal 1 may be indirectly controlled by this mechanism such, for example, as by a circuit which is closed or partially closed by the link 9 when it is thrown. In Fig. 1 I have shown stationary insulated blocks 16 and and an insulated portion 17 on lever 9 which is normally out of engagement with the blocks but which will be brought into contact therewith when the toggle is thrown to the dotted-line position. This may close a circuit at once to the signal l, if desired. but in a maiority of i11- stanees it is desirable to have the signal 4 also in part controlled by a commutator mechanism whereby the signal may be lighted only when the car reaches a given position. I have indicated this diagrammatically in Fig. 1 by a stationary contact 18 and a moving commutator brush 19. It will be obvious n both these instances that the signal 1 mechanism. The signal 1, being mounted directly on the link 9, is set or restored immediately whenever the magnet is energized. The signal 4 will be displayed immediately the button 20 is pushed, if the moving brush 19 is in contact with the stationary contact 18, and can be restored immediately thereafter by switch 29. Signal 4 (Fig. 1 or 2) is set (put in condition to be displayed), and mav be restored, bythat is, through or because ofsuccessive energizations of the magnet, but of course this signal is not actually displayed until it is lighted up when brush 19 touches contact 13. In order to 0perate the magnet 1 provide a setting circuit therefor and a normally-open switch therein which is closable by a passenger on a floor. l have indicated such switch diagrammatically at 20. When the switch 20 is closed, it closes a circuit "from the source of electromotive force 21, through the switch 20, stationary contact 22, portion 23 of link 9 to stationary block 42, and through the magnet, thus energizing the magnet and throwing the toggle, which will immediately open the circuit between 22 and 42, thus allowing the spring 13 to restore the lever 7 to normal position through the deenergization of the magnet. This will set or partially set the sgnal. I prefer that the button 20 be a spring-pressed switch, such, for example, as shown in Fig. 5 and which, as is shown, is mounted on a plunger 24 normally held in this position by spiral spring 25 and carrying at its end an insulated portion 26, which, when the button is pressed, will close the circuit and immediately open the same again by the contact springs 27, 28 passing onto the insulated portion 81. In order to restore the parts to normal position I provide a restoring circuit for the magnet, together with a normally-open switch therein which may be closed in order to energize the magnet by any suitable mechanism such, for example, as the opening of a floor gate or by a communtator located on the overhead. In Fig. 1 (when the toggle is in the dotted line position) the circuit may be traced from the battery 21 through the normally-open switch 29, stationary contact blocks 30 and 42, to the magnet. The normal break between the blocks and 30 is closed when the toggle is thrown to the dotted line position, and completesthe restoring circuit as far as the normally-open switch 29, and when this switch is closed it completes the circuit to the magnet, thus energizing the same and throw-ing the toggle back to the normal position at the same time breaking the restoring circuit at the contact block 30. This obviously will restore the signal to normal condition, such as by removing the target 1 from the opening 2, or breaking the circuit to the signal 4 at blocks 16 and 80. The insulated portion 23 of the lever 9, together with the insulated blocks 22, 42 and 30, therefore constitute one form of a circuit-shifting mechanism which is actuated by each successive energization of the magnet and which operates to disconnect the magnet from whichever circuit (setting circuit or restoring circuit) is closed and connect it to the other circuit. This general construction illustrated in Fig. 1 may be ada ted in various ways to the requirements of elevator s gnaling. In Fig. 4, for example, I have illustrated two cars 31 and 32, moving in opposite directions as shown by the arrows. These may be provided with up signals 33 and 34-, and down signals 35 and 36, if desired. The magnet 5 and the mechanism operated thereby controls the up signals for both cars, and the magnet 37 and the mechanism operated thereby controls the down signals for both cars. 20 is an up floor switch, and 38 a down floor switch in order to close the setting circuits to the respective magnets in the same way as the switch 20 does in Fig. 1. It will be obvious that if the switch 20 is closed, it will cause the energizaton of magnet 5, and set both signals 33 and 34 in the two cars by causing the toggle 8, 9 to be thrown. Similarly, if the down switch 38 is closed, it Will close the setting circuit through magnet 37, and set both down signals 35 and 36 by causing the similar toggle 40, 41 to be thrown. If the restoring switch 29 is closed after thetoggle 8, 9 has been thrown, it will close the restoring circuit through magnet 5 and restore the parts (including both lights 33 and 34) to normal condition. Similarly, if the restoring switch 43 of car 32 is closed it will restore toggle 40, 41 to normal position after it has been thrown. It will be observed that in this figure the circuits are cross-connected so that either restoring switch 29 or 43 may operate the proper restoration, and in order to prevent the improper restoration of a signal which has been set, I have provided mechanism operated automatically by the car and adapted to cause the restoring circuit or cir cuits to remain open during the time the particular car is moving in one direction. This is shown diagrammatically, for example, by the switch 44. 1V hen it rests in contact with the stationary block 45, the restoring switch 29 is connected to the up magnet 5 (providing the toggle has been thrown), but when it is moved over onto the block 46, the switch 29 is connected in the circuit to the down magnet 37. Consequently when the car 31 is moving up, for example, as indicated by the arrow, switch 29 can only restore the up signals 33, 34 and cannot restore the down signals 35, 36. A similar switch operated by the car 32 is shown by the switch-arm 47 and stationary blocks 48, 49, which control the connection of the down restoring switch 43. These switches44 and 47 are thrown as the cars reverse their direction of movement, in a manner well known in the art and which is a common expedient. Consequently if the cars are moving in opposite directions, only the proper signals can be restored, and if both cars are moving in the same direction (up, for example), switch 44 would be in the position shown, but switch 47 would be thrown over in contact with block 48, in which case both switches 29 and 43 would control the magnet 5 and the restoration of the up signalsbut not of the down signals. If the cars were both moving downwardly, switch 44 would be thrown over onto block 46, in which case the restoring switches 29 and 43 would control magnet 37 and cause the restoration of only the down signals. This description of Fig. 4 is only illustrative of the invention in its general cla ai teristics.

In Fig. 2 I have shown diagrammatically the invention as adapted to the general construction of commutator and system of the Smalley and Reiners Patent #634,220, or 826,752. In this figure I have shown two cars, A and B, together with two floors of the building, the car A going up and at about the level of the third fioor, and the car B going down and just approaching the fourth floor. Up and down push buttons for the passenger are indicated at 20 and 38 on the third floor, and 50 and 51 on the fourth floor, U and D respectively, represent the signal-controlling toggle mechanisms for the up for the thirdfloor, and down for the third floor. U and D represent the similar up and down mechanisms for the fourth floor. In this illustrative embodiment, instead of having separate signals for up and down for the cars, I have provided a single signal (4 and 64) in each car, each of which, by mechanism to be described hereafter, is caused to give a signal for each floor and for each direction of movement of the car, that is, a signal to the operator to stop at any floor no matter in which direction the car is moving. The up button 20 is assumed to have been pushed, which has thrown the toggle 8, 9 to the position shown, which has closed the circuit from the dynamo 39, through the light 4 and by the wiring as shown by the arrows, through the switch 16, 80, and back to the dynamo 39. The commutator mechanism for partially controlling the lights 4 and 64 may be of the same general construction as in the Smalley and Reiners patents mentioned. and may be diagrammatically represented by stationary contact plates 18 and 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59 and 60, and moving contact brushes 19, 56, 61 and 62. The stationary contacts 18 and 53, together with moving brush 19, control the times when light '4 may be lighted-asthe car A is mov-.

ing up, and the stationary contacts 54 and 55 and moving brush 56 control it when the car is moving down. Similarly, the stationary contacts 57, 58 and moving brush 62 control the light of car B when the car is moving up, and the stationary contacts 59, 60 and moving brush 61 control it whenthe car is moving down. The moving brushes may be shifted with relation to the stationary contacts so that false signals will not be given in any manner desired, such, for example, as moving them off from the lines of contacts at the proper time as the car reverses its movement, as in the prior patents referred to. These are such well known constructions that it is not necessary to illustrate them more in detail, as it will be evident to any mechanic skilled in the art. As an example, however, Fig. 3 shows a vertical section showing a shifting device for the brushes, moved and shifted by the overhead worm in the ordinary manner. It is suflicient to say that in Fig. 2 the moving brushes are moving in the direction illustrated by the arrows thereon. In order to restore the parts to normal position, the stationary contacts 78 and 65 to 71 are provided, together with moving brushes 72 to 75. The stationary restoring contacts are iositioned so that the moving restoring brushes 75 (for example) will rest on the corresponding restoring contacts when the car is at the corresponding floor. These moving restoring brushes are shifted in the proper way to prevent false restoration, as will be evident from the previous patents cited.

It will be observed that, with the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, as the car is at rest at the third floor, its moving brush 19 is in contact with the block 18, and therefore the light 4 is lighted (the brush also resting on block 53 of the next floor in order to give a signal about two floors in advance of where the car is to stop, as is usual). The restoring brush 75 at the same time rests upon the stationary restoring contact 78 for that floor, and if a circuit is closed through the brush 75 and contact 78 to the magnet 5, the toggle will be thrown and the light put out. I prefer to include in the restoring circuit a normally-open switch 29 on the shipper lever 76 (see Fig. 6), which switch normally prevents the restoration, but which when operated permits the moving restoring brushes to control the restoration. It will be observed that if the switch 29 is closed by the operator, the circuit will be closed from the battery 21 to the switch 29', throughthe commutator switch 75, 78, and from there by wire 77 to contact block 30, and from there through the magnet 5 and back to the source of supply, thus energizing the magnet and restoring the parts to normal, condition, The switchinc'ar A" is connected in parallel to the two restoring brushes 75 and 72, so that one switch controls both the up and down restoring circuits. A similar switch 79 on the shipper lever of car B is connected in parallel to the restoring brushes 73 and 74 for the same purpose. By this construction the operators may run the cars up and down the shaft without restoring any of the signals or circuits which have been set, but when a car stops at a floor and takes on a passenger, the operator can cause the restoration by closing the switch on his shipper lever. The fact that the two restoring brushes of any one car are shifted so as to place one of them out of line with the corresponding restoring contacts, renders the corresponding switch in the car capable of controlling only the restoring mechanisms corresponding to the direction that car is traveling.

I am aware that numerous modifications of my invention may be made, and that the constructions claimed may be adapted to.

various installations without departing from the invention as claimed. I therefore do not desire to limit myself to the particular embodiments described and illustrated herein.

that I claim is:

1. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, a magnet, a setting circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein operable by a passenger on a floor, a restoring circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein, circuit-shifting means operated by each successive energization of said magnet and adapted to open either of said circuits and close the other to the switch therein, and a signal set at one.

energization of said magnet and restored through the next energization thereof.

2. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, a signal, a magnet, signalcontrolling mechanism for setting the signal by one energization of saidmagnet and restoring the same by another energization and comprising a setting circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein closable by a passenger on a floor, a restor- "ing circuit for said magnet and a normallyopen switch therein, and circuit-shifting mechanism operated at each successive energization of said magnet and operating to disconnect said magnet from whichever circuit is closed and connect it to the other circuit.

3. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, a'signal, a magnet, signal-controlling mechanism for setting the signal by one energization of said magnet and restoring the same by another energization and comprising a setting circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein closable by a passenger on a floor, a restoring circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein, and circuit-shifting mechanism operated at each successive energization of said magnet and operating to disconnect said magnet from' whichever circuit is closed and connect it to the other circuit, and mechanism operated automatically by the car and adapted to cause the restoring circuit to remain open during the time the car is moving in one direction.

4:. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, a signal, a magnet, signal-controlling mechanism for setting the signal by one energization of said magnet and restoring the same by another energization and comprising an electromagnetic device moved in the same direction by said magnet whenever said magnet is energized, a spring adapted to return said device to normal position when released, and a signalcontrolling part moved by said electromagnetic device at each energization of said magnet, a setting circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein closable by a passenger on a floor, a restoring circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein, circuit-shifting mechanism operated at each successive energization of said magnet and operating to disconnect said magnet from whichever circuit is closed and connect it to the other circuit.

5. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, a signal, a magnet, signalcontrolling mechanism for setting the signal by one energization of said magnet and restoring the same by another energization and comprising a setting circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein closable by a passenger on a floor, a restoring circuit for said magnet and a normallyopen switch therein closed and opened by the movement of the car, and circuit-shifting mechanism operated at each successive energization of said magnet and operating to disconnect said magnet from whichever circuit is closed and connect it to the other circuit.

6. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, two cars, a signal corresponding to each car, a magnet, signal-controlling mechanism for setting both the signals by one energization of said magnet and restoring the same by another energization thereof and comprising a setting circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein closable by a passenger on a floor; and for each car a restoring circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein; and circuit-shifting mechanism operated at each successive energization of said magnet to disconnect said magnet from whichever circuit is closed and connect it to the other circuit.

7. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, two cars. a signal corresponding to each car, a magnet,signal-controlling mechanism for setting both the signals by one energization of said magnet and restoring the same by another energization thereof and comprising a setting circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein closable by a passenger on a floor; and for each car a restoring circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein; and circuit-shifting mechanism operated at each successive energization of said magnet to disconnect said magnet from whichever circuit is closed and connect it to the other circuit, and mechanism for each car operated automatically by that car and adapted to cause the restoring circuit of that car to remain open during the time that car is moving in one direction.

8. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, signal-controlling means for each of a plurality of floors adapted to cause a signal to be given for each floor, a passengeI"s-button on each floor controlling the same, a device moved correspondingly to the movement of the car and having connections arranged to control the restoration of the signal-controlling means corresponding to any floor when the car is at that floor, an electric switch normally preventing the restoration but adapted when operated to permit the restoration, a lever on the car controlling the movement of the car, and operating means for said electric switch mounted on said lever within reach of the operators fingers.

9. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, up and down signal-controlling means for each of a plurality of floors adapted to cause a signal to be given for each fioor and each direction of movement of the car, an up and a down passengersbutton on each floor controlling the same, a

device moved correspondingly to the movement of the car and having connections arranged to control the restoration of the signal-controlling means corresponding to any floor when the car is at that floor, an electric switch normally preventing the restoration but adapted when operated to permit the restoration, a lever on the car controlling the movement of the car, operating means for said electric switch mounted on said lever within reach of the operators fingers, and mechanism operated by the reversal of the cars movement and adapted to render said switch capable of controlling only the restoring mechanisms corresponding to the direction the car is traveling.

10. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, a signal, a magnet, signalcontrolling mechanism for setting the signal by one energization of said magnet and restoring the same by another energization and comprising a setting circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein closable by a passenger on a floor, a restoring circuit for said magnet and a normally-open switch therein, and circuitshifting mechanism operated at each successive energization of said magnet and operating to disconnect said magnet from whichever circuit is closed and connect it to the other circuit, a signal-displaying circuit for said signal and a commutator operating to close said circuit after said setting circuit has been closed.

Signed at New York city, New York this 23rd day of May 1911.

EMERSON R. NEWELL.

Witnesses BEATRICE MIRVIS, A. BERN STEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. O. 

